Olympic champions Faith Kipyegon of Kenya and Letsile Tebogo of Botswana are among the eight gold medalists set to dazzle at the Golden Gala in Rome on Friday, as the Italian capital hosts the 13th Wanda Diamond League meeting of the season.
This star-studded event will see a lineup of the world’s elite athletes, including world record-holders and Olympic legends, competing in what promises to be a thrilling showcase of talent and speed.
Faith Kipyegon, the reigning world record-holder and three-time Olympic champion in the 1500m, returns to Rome, a venue that holds a special place in her career.
Known for her unmatched pace and tactical prowess, Kipyegon set her first world record at this event’s previous edition held in Florence.
Having recently claimed her third consecutive Olympic gold in Paris with a time of 3:51.29—just shy of her world record of 3:49.04—Kipyegon will once again face a competitive field that includes her familiar rival, Australian Jess Hull, as well as Ethiopia’s Freweyni Hailu and Birke Haylom.
Italy’s own Nadia Battocletti, known for her silver medal in the 10,000m, will test her endurance over the shorter 1500m distance, adding to the excitement of the race.
Meanwhile, Letsile Tebogo, the sprinting sensation from Botswana, will take center stage in the men’s 100m. Tebogo made history in Paris by winning the 200m in an African record time of 19.46 seconds and setting a national record of 9.86 seconds in the 100m final, where he finished sixth.
Now, Tebogo will line up against some of the world’s best sprinters, including 2022 world champion Fred Kerley, 2021 Olympic gold medalist Marcell Jacobs, and other top contenders like Christian Coleman, Ferdinand Omanyala, and Ackeem Blake.
Jamaican sprinter Kishane Thompson, who leads the world this year with a time of 9.77 seconds, will also be competing, making this one of the most anticipated races of the evening.
The Golden Gala will not only feature these two Olympic stars but also a host of other world-class athletes, including Bahraini steeplechase champion Winfred Yavi, Jamaican discus thrower Roje Stona, and American track stars Masai Russell, Nina Kennedy, and Tara Davis-Woodhall.
